MySideOfTheBar

As most of you know I am a spectator/fan for Central Patti when she runs one of her many races. Recently she was running the Garmin half marathon in Lenexa KS and we were staying at the Embassy Suites (which just happen to be where the starting line was). After Central Patti started I went back inside and had a cup of coffee. At 8 I decided it was time for a drink (OTG) This Embassy had an excellent bar, however it was not open yet. I went to the front desk to make a query on the hours. I asked the young lady at the desk, "What time does the bar open?" She replied, "Not until 11:00." I smiled and said, "I am not sure I can wait that long." Trying to be helpful she gave me a couple of options, "The Burger King and a few other places are open across the street where you can get some food." I smiled again and replied, "I am not looking for food, I am looking for a drink." With a puzzled look she replied, "This early?...

I seem to get asked this question more than any other lately. "If I go into a Cigar Lounge do I have to buy a Cigar to sit and smoke one?" The short answer is yes, absolutely. To explain, when you sit in a Cigar Lounge and smoke a stick you are taking up space. Every inch of a business has to be accounted for.  So if you sit and smoke for 30 - 90 minutes or longer they are making zero dollars for the space you are taking up. Even if  you buy a stick and sit for that long they are not making much money for the time you are using that space. We all want nice lounges to sit and enjoy a stick in, especially when the weather is inclement and even just to socialize. I realize that you can purchase a stick on the internet for up to 300% cheaper, however by doing this and then smoking them in your lounge you are not supporting that lounge. If you do not support your local lounges they may not be around for long. A Cigar Shop/Lounge has to sell a lot of sticks just to make end...

I learned about this stick about a month or so back while at a Cigar event. A couple of weeks ago a KCTobacPack member (B.F.) was kind enough to give me a stick so I thought I would give it a review. For those of us not familiar with what "Stalk Cut" is (I had to look it up myself) Stalk cutting is a process whereby the entire tobacco plant is cut at the base and hung by its stalk to cure in a barn. This process allows the tobacco to retain the nutrients from the stalk and imparts a richer and earthier flavor profile. When first lighting this cigar it is very, very mild. In fact so mild to me I was a little disappointed, that is until I was about half way through the stick. While still a little mild for my taste, the flavor came alive in the second half with lots of spice. To be fair I will need to try at least another for comparison (the one I had was the Toro) and at the price of about $6 - $9 a stick I would say give one a try. Cheers The Professor

Ok, just a few quick posts. This morning I had one of the worst Bloody Marys of all time at McFaddens while waiting for Central Patti to run a 12 K (whatever a K is) They use Mr T's Bloody Mary mix or something like that. Why not just give up if all you can do when  you make a Bloody Mary is use a crap mix That is really lazy and shows no respect for your customers. I have ranted on this before, but had to vent again. The only good/acceptable mixers for a Bloody Mary is Tabasco or 7 Pepper. Every thing else just plan sucks. Buy some tomato juice and you have all the spices you ever need in your refrigerator and cupboard. Also while I am ragging on McFaddens they do not even carry grapefruit for a Greyhound. WTF? Now on the plus side, they have hot bartenders and waitresses in very nice outfits complete with high socks. Now on the flip side, the Westin at Crown Center makes their Bloody Mary's from scratch (I watched them make it) and put use Spicy V8 for their base. A very ...

A quick on this post. In the picture below You will see two stacks of cigar boxes. Comment with the total height of both stacks of boxes and win a prize especially selected for you. Cheers The Professor

Yes it has been awhile since I last posted. Lots happening here @MySideOfTheBar in the last month. A few new Cigar Lounges to tell you about. Many great cigars. A few mishaps and some great new Whiskeys. One of the many things I enjoy about Whiskey Wednesday is all the different Whiskeys the gang brings by. Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey is one that really caught me by surprise. The Enforcer introduced us to this Whiskey on a Whiskey Wednesday not long ago. When drinking this Whiskey you cannot help noticing the superior taste and quality of authentic Irish whiskies like Tullamore D.E.W, Teeling. The Whiskey is very smooth and has a small hint of caramel in the finish. It must have been good, because the bottle did not last through the night. Now the story of Hell-Cat Maggie the person is very interesting. See below* The box states, A Unique Blend of the Finest Irish Craftsmanship & American Know-How. Which is a good overall perspective. Another review stated "a good...

I ran across this idea a week or so back and thought I would provide my own twist to it. Not that this is anything that new for us and if you are a "Usual Suspect" you have been to many of my Martini Hours. So here are my reasons to bring back home Cocktail Parties as opposed to going out. 1. You get to pick the group of individuals you want around when you are drinking. If you have been out to many bars lately you know what I am talking about. You don't have to worry about loud obnoxious individuals spilling drinks on you. (Hopefully ;) ) 2. No lines at the bathroom. Well maybe a short wait and hopefully not following C.O. in line 3. You get to control the music selection and volume. Nothing is more annoying than music so loud you can not have a conversation. You may need to have someone watch the stereo and hopefully they won't get jiggy with it. 4. You get to use all the glass ware you have been collecting for years. 5. You get to show off your Mi...